Girlfriend: Semyon Varlamov kicked and stomped on me

Nov. 1, 2013
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Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov appears in this booking photo released by the Denver Police Department. Varlamov surrendered to Denver police on an arrest warrant on charges of kidnapping and third-degree assault in what authorities are calling a domestic violence incident. / AP

by Blair Shiff, USA TODAY Sports

by Blair Shiff, USA TODAY Sports

Varlamov appeared in a Denver court on Thursday, facing charges of second-degree kidnapping and third-degree assault related to this incident. He bonded out of jail Thursday after his court appearance.

His girlfriend, 24-year-old Evgenia Vavinyuk, says the encounter happened on Monday at her home in the 1700 block of Bassett Street.

According to the police report, Varlamov allegedly kicked her, stomped on her, dragged her around the house and threatened her. The woman had bruises consistent with a physical encounter, the police report said.

Varlamov surrendered to police on Wednesday.

According to the Vavinyuk's attorney Jack Abrams, the couple have a history of domestic disturbances. He says this marks the fourth or fifth time they have had run-ins with one another - including one occasion where he says she was knocked unconscious over the summer during a vacation on a Mediterranean island. They have been together for about four years after meeting in Russia. She works as a model in the U.S.

Evgenia, who only speaks Russian, told Bolton she and Varlamov have known each other for four years, but have been dating for one.

The story of how they met still makes Vavrinyuk smile. The two met in Russia. She said Varlamov was supposed to go out with a friend of hers, but didn't show.

"I wanted to teach him a lesson," she said. "I was thinking what kind of a guy is he and started exchanging messages with him. That's how we became friends."

The relationship between the goalie and the model wasn't perfect. Vavrinyuk said they broke up and got back together twice.

Vavrinyuk told KUSA she went to police this time, because she's in the U.S.

"I want the American government to defend me," she said. "I want everyone to know, all the fans to know, that he's not the great Semyon Varlamov. Great people don't beat up their women. They don't give them concussions. They don't belittle them, throw out like dogs. I want people to know this, that this man can be an animal."

The story of the hockey star is all over the Russian media. One channel interviewed Semyon's father, who told them, "I know Semyon is innocent."

At this point, these are just accusations against a famous man, a man Vavrinyuk believes feels invincible.

"I want to say women can't allow men to abuse them. You absolutely can't stay quiet about it. I think I did the right thing by not staying silent. I wasn't scared of his fame, his popularity," she said.

The Colorado Avalanche sent out a statement on Wednesday that read: "The Colorado Avalanche organization is aware of the allegations concerning Semyon Varlamov. At this time, and until the conclusion of this investigation, the Avalanche organization will have no further comment on this situation."

Avs coach Patrick Roy held a news conference on Thursday and spoke to the situation.

"It's a law thing, and it's important for me as a coach that I keep my focus on our team, and we keep our focus there," Roy said. "At the same time, we let the law decide what's going to be."

Varlamov, 25, has led the Avalanche to a 10-1 start and is 7-1 in the games he has started. He has played in the NHL for five seasons, and the Avs picked him up in July 2011 after a trade with the Washington Capitals.

Varlamov was born in Samara, Russia and started playing for the Capitals in the 2008-09 season. He was drafted by Washington in 2006 in the first round (23rd overall).

Avalanche coach Patrick Roy was arrested for domestic violence in October 2000, but that case was later dismissed by the Arapahoe County judge, who ruled it fell short of the standard needed for misdemeanor criminal mischief during an act of domestic violence.